Category: News (Page 8 of 22)

Lawrence’s First Fall Community Bike Ride

September 20, 2014 /

It was beautiful early fall Saturday morning when approximately 100 riders and volunteers descended on the Haskell Indian Nations’ Stadium parking lot for our first fall Community Bike Ride.

The mile and a half ride up Burroughs Creek Trail and back made for a great quick three mile for riders of all experience levels.

There’s a lot of people to thank:

Anderson Rentals for the tent, tables, and porta-potties
Douglas County Safe Kids, LMH, and Lawrence Fire and Medical members who came out to fit kids who needed free helmets.
The team from The Merc for the great healthy snacks.
Sunflower Bike for the complimentary bike checks.
Team GpVeloTek and Lawrence Bicycle club and other volunteers for keeping people safe out on the course.
Haskell Indian Nations University for the use of the parking lot as a staging area.
Lawrence Unchained Bicycle Co-Op for course support and letting people know about your great work!
And the incredible support of our sponsors: Lawrence Eye Care Associates, Ortho Kansas, Econolodge, McDonalds, Bev West Creative.

One of the riders, Eddie Davalos, had his camera and shot some great pics from the registration area and out of the course. Below is a galley of his images. Thanks Eddie! If you have any images you’d like to share email them to us them to us and we’ll get them posted.

Comments Invited for the 2015-2019 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) & Program of Projects

September 16, 2014 /

Development of the 2015-2019 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Program of Projects for the Lawrence Transit System

The TIP is a multi-year listing of federally funded and/or regionally significant projects selected to improve the transportation network for the Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Area. The official 30-day public comment period for this TIP starts on September 16, 2014 and will end on October 15, 2014. This TIP Amendment will come before the Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Policy Board for approval on October 16, 2014. This public notice on the TIP development process satisfies the FTA’s Program of Projects requirements for the Lawrence Transit System.

A new TIP covering all of Douglas County must be created at least once every four years to comply with federal regulations. This TIP includes projects scope, costs and schedules for transportation projects sponsored by Lawrence, Douglas County, Lawrence Transit and KDOT. Public Comments received will be reported and considered by the MPO Policy Board where decisions pertaining to revision this document will be made prior to final approval.

The draft 2015-2019 TIP will be available for public review online at: www.lawrenceks.org/mpo/tip; paper copies are available for review at Lawrence City Hall, Lecompton City Hall, Baldwin City Public Library, Eudora Public Library and Lawrence Public Library.

Written comments may be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to Jessica Mortinger at the Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Office, PO Box 708, Lawrence, KS 66044-0708.

Bike MS – Kansas Day One Ride Overnights in Lawrence’s South Park Saturday 9/13

September 12, 2014 /

Bike MS passes through the Kansas City Metro into the back roads of Kansas’ finest countryside. The routes include fully-stocked rest stops every 10-15 miles, a great lunch stop each day and safety provided by volunteer EMT’s, HAM radio operators, the police department and bicycle repair from their partner bike shops.

The ride will conclude the day at South Park in Lawrence, KS, where riders and local bikers will be treated to a fun Gears & Grooves Festival featuring musical entertainment, food and Boulevard beer. Everyone will be up early on Sunday for a pancake breakfast by Chris Cakes and back out on the road to Olathe, KS for a finish line celebration.

More info about the ride at http://bikeksg.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BIKE_KSG_Kansas_City_Ride

Your Help Is Needed For Lawrence’s Safe Routes to School Planning Initiative

September 3, 2014 /

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs are sustained efforts by parents, schools and community leaders to improve the health and well-being of children by enabling and encouraging them to walk and bicycle to school.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department has been working in conjunction with Lawrence Public Schools, the City of Lawrence and the Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization to launch a SRTS planning initiative.

The project seeks to involve schools in Lawrence, both public and private, that serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The goal of the Safe Routes project is to develop a comprehensive, citywide SRTS plan that enables and encourages children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bike to and from school.

The public is invited to participate in two upcoming opportunities to learn more about the Safe Routes project and to get involved.

Why Safe Routes to School Matters: Public presentation by the National Center for Safe Routes to Schools
7-8 p.m., Monday, Sept. 29
Community Health Facility, Second Floor Meeting Room, 200 Maine Street, Lawrence
Safe Routes to School National Course
Register at saferoutescourse.eventbrite.com
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 30
Community Health Facility, Second Floor Meeting Room, 200 Maine Street, Lawrence

Join community leaders, school officials, public health workers, transportation and public works professionals, law enforcement officers, parents and neighbors for this opportunity for all elementary and middle schools in Lawrence, Kansas.

The course is offered free of charge, with refreshments, snacks and lunch provided.

Overview of course agenda:

Why safe routes to school matters: Safety, health and transportation issues
Field exercise of school campus and surrounding area
Perspectives from local stakeholders
Engineering strategies
Pick-up and drop-off area strategies
Identification and education strategies
Enforcement strategies
Action steps to develop a comprehensive, citywide SRTS Plan

Please register in advance at saferoutescourse.eventbrite.com. For more information, contact Charlie Bryan at 785-856-7357 or [email protected].

A Huge Win For Biking In Lawrence: Sunflower Foundation Awards Grand To Develop Community Trails

August 29, 2014 /

Thanks to a grant from the Sunflower Foundation Lawrence residents soon have an ADA friendly path in Burcham park.

The Sunflower Foundation Board of Trustees has awarded $290,879 to seven communities and one school district to build new public trails or enhance existing ones.

“It’s a pleasure to grow the Sunflower Trails family, creating more and more outdoor space for communities to share,” said Billie Hall, President and CEO of the Sunflower Foundation.

“What started as a way to help communities enhance their built environment has evolved over ten years into a dynamic way to engage people around health and wellness,” Hall said. “Each project reflects its unique community, and it’s exciting to see the creative ways each trail is used.”

So far, the program has helped fund more than 125 trail projects across the state. You can find Sunflower Trails near you with this trail finder: http://SunflowerFoundation.org/TrailFinder.

Lawrence is one of the recipients where a popular footpath along the Kansas River in Douglas County will soon be much more accessible thanks to this community driven project. The city plans to open the new 10 foot wide, ADA friendly trail by spring of 2015. The improved trail — located in Lawrence’s Burcham Park — will connect several existing trails, including a recently completed one behind Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center.

Other recipients include:

City of Derby – Madison Avenue Central Park
City of Roeland Park Volunteers in Roeland Park are working to restore an urban green space called “R Park.”
Riley County The Riley County Parks Department is creating new green space for the people of Manhattan to enjoy.
City of Conway Springs Conway Springs in Sumner County plans to build its first community trail this fall.
City of Paola This seven-mile trail will encircle Lake Miola just outside of town.
City of Tonganoxie The popular Chieftain Trail in Tonganoxie will be enhanced.
USD #233 Olathe Public Schools Sunnyside Elementary School will build a ¼Zmile asphalt trail loop just inside the school yard.

Since its inception in 2005, the Sunflower Trails program has helped more than 125 trail projects in more than 45 Kansas counties. For additional information about the Sunflower Trails program, please contact Sunflower Trails program officer at Elizabeth Stewart [email protected] or (785) 232Z3000.

The mission of the Sunflower Foundation is to serve as a catalyst for improving the health of Kansans, which it supports through a program of grants and related activities. Further details about the foundation’s programs and grants are available at SunflowerFoundation.org.